Martin and Osa..quality, cute store

i stumbled across my new favorite store, Martin and Osa friday night as i was on a hunt for a specific something. (ended up spending a lot more then the original budget planned!) when i first saw it my initial thought was, "great another hollister!" but i was pleasantly surprised, it's not. i walked in just to check it out. it's very classy and chic. like american eagle outdoorsy feel type. more for adults though (which i guess i am now.) really natural, quality clothing. they have sweaters made from soybeans! it's softer then cashmere. and cheaper. and doesn't have those prickly itchy parts. the store is named after this cute couple above and to the left. they married in 1910, and travelled the world, helping the environment and doing lot's of service. cute story, huh?

the efforts of one man....on his path to finding a job.

I saw this hilarious, inspirational blog yesterday. Click here: How to find a job. A colleague of mine sent it as a forward. As I know from very personal experience, getting a job with this economy can be a rather difficult thing, to say the least. You have to be proactive and put yourself out there. Take risks. Establish relationships. Be creative. Start a blog...Well some of us, do that. This guy totally started a blog about his experience on the job hunt. I suspect that there will be many people wanting to interview if not hire him. Way to think outside the box, dude!

And, Brittany. I will complete your assignment. But, my life is so dull and uninteresting, compared to so many, though. But, I will do it just for you. Because of the friendship we share. The post will be coming soon. Promise.

Stop hyperventilating over Phelps? Some writer's can be so dumb

Yesterday in the Chicago Tribune some lame writer, Phillip Hersch, was complaining that Michael Phelps is not the greatest athlete of all time, and that he is tired of hearing from everyone that he is. Please see Michael Phelps great—but not the greatest.

Hersch's argument was this: that Phelps is #6 on the same list as Carl Lewis, the track and field star, of the Olympics greatest athletes. And because track and field tires a body out more quickly, runners cannot participate in as many races. Unlike Mike who can do a bunch a day and win medal after medal, making it appear like he is this all-time, all-around super star. So, Phelps shouldn't even be on the list.

What the...?

Personally I think it's a non-sequitor. Mike is a superb athlete and an adorable, good kid (might be a non-sequitor.) He for sure deserves to be on the list. He's unlike anything we've ever seen. He just swims his best and does what he does. It's incredible! Why bring up track and field and compare it with swimming. It's like comparing apples and oranges. Make the dang list of greatest athletes and give credit where credit is due.

I think lame Hersch had to pump out a story by the August 15th with a certain number of words or he'd get fired.

Ticked me off all day yesterday. And I haven't even been faithfully watching the Olympics! Though I did watch Shawn and Nastia win gold and silver Thursday night. P.S. Loved Nastia's pink leotard.

Some things I must admit

#1
I have not been watching the Olympics. I must admit. Just brief clips here and there. I know awful of me, huh? I do read the paper though, well glance, every morning. And I pay attention to Olympic conversations going on around me, as well as look at Alyssa's blog on a daily basis, so I semi know what is going on.

#2
Once upon a time, I wanted to be a hippie, I must admit. Not a really, real hippie, just like this laid back chill person. Relax. Love everybody, love life. I admired those ideals. However, today I had to go to the DMV and I sat next to this guy who looked very hippie. Turns out he was. Hadn't showered in like...um...ever. He lifted his armpit and I almost fell on the floor dead. It was sick. I still have the scent in my nose and it's been...yep....over two hours. Fantasy hippie life...done.

#3
So, I dyed my hair. Dark, dark, dark. I kind of wanted to do it for a while, I must admit. Since before my mission, actually, but I've always been afraid, so I haven't. On Saturday, the day I did it, I loved it. Sunday morning, I woke up and was like, "WHAT DID I DO!!!!????" (Part of that could have been because I was sick and you just don't feel good about yourself when you feel like crude.) Now I'm in between the like and the opposite reaction. I miss my golden locks very much!

#4
I went to a Cubs game last Tuesday with my sister Michelle, a co-worker and her boy-f. We had the best seats of my life, right behind home plate. And I must admit....I forgot my camera!!! Now I have no proof of my amazing seats. No one will ever believe me. The Cubs won 11-7 and kicked the Houston (the place of my mission, so I kind of have a soft spot, but not when it comes to Cubs versus them) Astros trash. It was beautiful.

#5
I saw Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift. My sister Rebecca got me tickets for my b-day because she is so amazing and knows I love, love, LOVE, love, love them and have wanted to see them FOREVER. I mean like my whole life almost. They were my gateway to country music. Our seats were in the lawn section. I was surrounded by highschoolers, which really weirded me out. My sister was cool with it of course, being 16 and all, showed me the ropes. She also felt sorry for me and pointed out that most of the adults were in the close up seats. Thanks, Bec. But I must admit, I screamed like a high school girl when they came out. You would have probably thought I was one, had you seen or heard me. There would have been no way for you to differentiate. The concert was incredible of course. My life has now almost been fulfilled.

#6
I must admit I gambled. My office had a work party at Arlington Park, the horse races. They gave everyone $25. I wasn't about to let the money go to waste. So, a friend and I used it all. His $25 and my $25. We didn't win a cent. True, I didn't know what I was doing. He checked out the stats, read about all the horses, their life stories and what their strength and weaknesses were...and was very analytical and statistical about it. I picked out my favorite names. Either way you do it, though, you lose. And if you do win, it's like $4. I will never gamble again. So not worth it! (Unless it's on the firm. Then for sure I will.)

#7
I ate 7 rolls of sushi Friday night and two rolls on Saturday, I must admit. (No wonder I was sick on Sunday, huh?) Now, I did have some help. I did not eat all 9 rolls ALL by myself. Each night I had assistance. Friday night, my friend and I went to an all you can eat place, so we had to stuff it in and get our money's worth, right? The other one was just a craving, Becca and I had on the way to the concert. And I just got a phone call from a friend who wants to do sushi this Thursday night. I have got to calm down.

If you happen to know of an anonymous stop-eating-sushi hot line, let me know, please. For all my other confessions, I think I have them under control.

Update

I just wanted to give an update on two things.

First, Jessica Simpson. I had an intense conversation with a co-worker over hamburger and fries (me) and pizza (her.) Our conversation included some of the highest of all world matters. The recent announcement of Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer's marriage, the cuteness of Matt Damon and his beautiful non-celebrity wife, and the patheticissm (is that a word?) of the Simpson (not the cartoon) family. No worries Brittany, she helped me to see the light and I will not go back to being Jessica obsessed like I was all those years ago (whatever got into me anyway. I've grown a lot since then. Promise.) Though I will not lie, still think her single is catchy.

Second, I must give an update on how my elevator etiquette is coming along. Terrible. Unless I'm with a co-worker I never talk. I can't. And I don't think it is proper to. No one else does. The awkwardness each morning continues. Luckily it only lasts seven floors (that's like 30 seconds tops.)

is it pathetic that i really love the new Jessica Simpson song, Come On Over? is it even more pathetic that i still wish her and Nick were together. i know it is. it's okay you can tell me. she was on the country station here in Chicago on today on my way to work. i listened for the whole 30 minute commute time. and i didn't change the radio station once. pathetic. i know.

why do we do this to ourselves?

i wore heels when my feet were killing me, bought ice cream when i didn't need it or want it, spent $50 when all i needed was a contact lens case for $3.99. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

i got dressed this morning and i wanted to be hot and girlie. so i put on a pair of heels. by the end of the day the balls of my feet were sore and blistered. of course i still continued walking in them as i ran errands after work. the whole time i was pumping gas, looking for an anniversary present for my parents at Home Depot and purchasing my $3.99 contact lens case (and then some) at Target I was thinking, "Ow, ow, ow." but i was also thinking, "i love how these shoes look with my jeans. i love how my heels click on the floor. i feel so cute..." and on and on with girly thoughts to counter my pain. ridiculous, right? why should a pair of torture shoes make me feel like i'm cute? (p.s. for all you Friends fans, i am reminded of the episode when Monica buys the killer boots (literally) and she complains how much they hurt and that she can't feel her feet anymore and she says, "the man who made these boots hates feet and wants them to die!" and then later in the convo Rachel says, "i'll wear them, i haven't felt my feet in years."

so after purchasing gas from Costco (because it's the cheapest around) i went inside to do a little window shopping. and then because it's tradition (every time i go) i purchased the $1.35 huge cup of non-fat swirl yogurt. the whole time i was eating it i was thinking, "i don't even want this. i can feel myself getting fatter (despite the non-fat) this doesn't even taste good right now." but i was also thinking, "i love ice cream. it makes me feel all summery. i deserve a reward after working all day," stuipid, huh? that food puts us in a mood and we eat even when we really don't want it, just to reward overselves.

and finally, i've been using the same contact lens case for over 18 months. gross, i recently learned. i had no idea that bacteria grows in contact lens cases and that you should change them every three months (i just read an article in Self that said so.) so after my ice cream i couldn't have cared less for, i decided to run to Target and pick up a case and then i remembered i had a coupon for $5 off of a $50 purchase. of course i HAD to use it. so i did. i bought the new Stephanie Meyer book (it was 30% off) and some capris (30% as well.) i walked out and realized that i could have saved myself $46 if i had just decided not to use the stuipid coupon. but, i justify my purchase with the fact that tomorrow i can where cute capris to the Cubs game (that will probably be rained out) and tonight i can fall asleep with Edward and Bella (more lost hours of sleep.) i guess it's worth the $50.